5 Facts about Olay's Push for Cruelty-Free Skin Care in the Industry

What we believe

Olay is calling for an end to animal testing in skin care and the beauty industry.

Changing the Beauty Industry

We do not test our products on animals. Olay is working closely with governments around the world to provide alternative research methods to eliminate testing on animals, enabling cruelty-free skin care in the beauty industry. For example, in a few countries where Olay is sold, governments still mandate animal tests. In those cases, Olay can be required by law to submit our products to labs where we know animal tests are happening.

This is why we do not claim cruelty-free on our packaging. We do not believe these tests are necessary to evaluate safety or performance. But today, they won’t accept alternative non-animal testing methods. We remain steadfast and will continue to advocate for alternative methods to end animal tests in the industry.

How to test our products

Olay tests its products on “lab skins,” including unique, Olay-invented versions that have the same physical properties as natural skin but are created wholly in a lab setting from non-animal materials. Testing on lab skin helps ensure our products work as intended and are safe to use. We also research our products with thousands of women around the world to ensure they provide real, transformational skincare benefits that women expect when using Olay.

Investing in cruelty-free research

Olay's parent company, P&G, has devoted a total of $410 million to develop cruelty-free alternatives. Additionally, P&G has joined industry coalitions to share research and testing methodologies so that other skin care brands and the industry-at-large can end animal testing and move toward cruelty-free skin care.

Partnering with the humane society

Olay supports the Humane Society International’s #BeCrueltyFree campaign to ban animal testing for cosmetics in all major global beauty markets by 2023.

"The Humane Society of the United States has collaborated with P&G scientists for over 20 years to successfully advocate for national and international changes in animal testing regulations and practices. Technological and scientific advances are providing the basis for an entirely new safety assessment paradigm. Eliminating animal testing is an ambitious goal. But working together, a coalition of animal protection groups and committed corporations can make this goal a reality."

Andrew N. Rowan

Chief Scientific Officer

Human Society of the United States